52 Pick-Up (1974)

by Elmore Leonard

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652	17	35,893	(3.62)	25
52 Pickup is a rip-roaring thriller from master of crime fiction Elmore Leonard, the New York Times bestselling author of Raylan, Get Shorty, Killshot, and other novels of suspense. Detroit businessman Harry Mitchell has had only one affair in his twenty-two years of happy matrimony. Unfortunately, someone caught his indiscretion on film and now wants Harry to fork over one hundred grand to keep his infidelity a secret. And if Harry doesn't pay up, the blackmailer and his associates plan to press a lot harder-up to and including homicide, if necessary. But the psychos picked the wrong pigeon for their murderous scam. Because Harry Mitchell doesn't get mad...he gets even.… (more)

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English (16) Swedish (1) All languages (17)

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Another excellent Elmore Leonard book. Great character development, lots of action. (

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davidgloer | Feb 21, 2024 |

Elmore Leonard at the top of his game. Good Plot, Realistic Dialogue, Great Characters. Currently watching the movie of the same name, and of course, doesn't hold a candle to the book, which is more cinematic than the movie...go figure. (

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bjkelley | Jul 11, 2023 |

Yes, Chandleresque (

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hotblack43 | Jan 10, 2023 |

This was an interesting read, but it was hard to really like any of the characters. And the ending seemed to come abruptly, with some loose ends unless I missed something. (

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MartyFried | Oct 9, 2022 |

Good, rather propulsive crime story. I liked the gritty black side of Detroit angle and how the protagonist (Mitchell) turns out to be a pretty savvy and bold fixer. Not sure I was crazy about the quick, random violence. Ending rather stinks... yes, he (the author) had painted himself into a corner, but still... that was quite implausible and it isn't good when the reader is just shaking his head ... c'mon. (

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apende | Jul 12, 2022 |

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Is contained in

Four Novels of the 1970s: Fifty-Two Pickup / Swag / Unknown Man No. 89 / The Switch by Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard: The Classic Crime Novels: A Library of America Boxed Set by Elmore Leonard (indirect)

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The Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (Crime)

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Canonical title

52 Pick-Up

Original title

52 Pick-Up

Alternative titles

52 Pickup

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Important events

Related movies

The Ambassador (1984 | IMDb)

52 Pick-Up (1986 | IMDb)

Epigraph

Dedication

For J. S.

First words

He could not get used to going to the girl’s apartment.

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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

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▾Book descriptions

52 Pickup is a rip-roaring thriller from master of crime fiction Elmore Leonard, the New York Times bestselling author of Raylan, Get Shorty, Killshot, and other novels of suspense. Detroit businessman Harry Mitchell has had only one affair in his twenty-two years of happy matrimony. Unfortunately, someone caught his indiscretion on film and now wants Harry to fork over one hundred grand to keep his infidelity a secret. And if Harry doesn't pay up, the blackmailer and his associates plan to press a lot harder-up to and including homicide, if necessary. But the psychos picked the wrong pigeon for their murderous scam. Because Harry Mitchell doesn't get mad...he gets even.

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